GOD HAS NO FAVOURITES (SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR B) 2024

GOD HAS NO FAVOURITES

In this Sunday’s first reading, we heard that “God has no favourites. But anyone who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to him.”  And Jesus had said in the Gospel of Matthew 12:50 “Anyone who does the will of my Father, is my brother, sister and mother.”

God’s offer of salvation is not and can’t be based on any pre-existing privileges. It is a function of God’s unconditional love for us and not our love for him (2nd Reading). God’s love precedes ours. That’s why God has no favourites. All deserve redemption because his love for each of us is indeed perfect.

However, such a love as this impels us to do the only thing that is right and that is to respond to God in love. Therefore, all must now make a deliberate choice to yield to God in obedience in order to remain in and experience the Father’s love and fullness of joy that is freely offered to all(John 15:9). Cornelius, in today’s first reading, was considered a pagan which meant that he was an outsider to the promises that God made to Abraham. But because he was a devout and faithful person, God disregarded the human religious parameters and gave him the Holy Spirit of salvation who is the Divine pledge of eternity.

Through obedience, we receive the Father’s love and share in his life through the Holy Spirit regardless of our background and people’s opinion of us. God loves every one of us equally.

So, let us pray that in whatever may come our way,  no matter how low life may bring us, we may never forget nor let go of the truth that we are all God’s favourites. Like Cornelius, with the openness of heart to God, may we receive the divine promises and abide in the Our Father’s love. We make our prayers through Christ our Lord. Amen

The Lord be with you

May Almighty God bless you, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Go in Peace and Happy Sunday.

Fr Chinedu